Mary Jo Foley | |
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 Foley in 2008 | |
| Born | November 15, 1961 (1961-11-15) (age 63) |
| Nationality | American (US) |
| Alma mater | Simmons College |
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| Known for | Editor of "All About Microsoft" column onZDNet |
| Notable work |
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| Website | https://www.directionsonmicrosoft.com/blog |
Mary Jo Foley is an American freelance technology writer, author,podcaster and news editor. She regularly writes news, previews, and reviews forMicrosoft's strategy, products and technology. Foley has been covering news onMicrosoft Windows, and previously onUnix-related technology, since 1983,[1] for publications includingZDNet,eWeek,Baseline,[2]Redmond magazine,PC Magazine, andDirections on Microsoft.[2]
Foley graduated fromSimmons College in 1983 with a degree in technical journalism.[3] In 1984 she interviewed the then head of Microsoft,Bill Gates, for a cover story inElectronic Business magazine. The interview was held at the Microsoft booth of the annualCOMDEX technology exhibition. During the interview,Apple Computer CEOSteve Jobs, whom Foley did not know, walked up and began chatting with Gates. Eventually Foley grew impatient and told Jobs that she was trying to do an interview, and asked him to come back later. Jobs walked away, and Gates then explained to Foley that she had just sent away the head of Apple.[3] In 1991 she was hired by the magazinePCWeek, later renamed toeWeek, and moved to San Francisco. In 1993 she was offered the newly vacant post of Microsoft reporter, and moved toSeattle, Washington, near Microsoft'sRedmond, Washington, headquarters. In the late 1990s, she edited the award-winning "At The Evil Empire" column for ZDNet,[4] and subsequently the "Microsoft Watch" blog for Ziff Davis.[4] Until October 2022, she edited the "All About Microsoft" column on ZDNet.
Three days before the public launch on February 17, 2000, of the full version ofMicrosoft Windows 2000, which Microsoft advertised as "a standard in reliability," a leaked memo from Microsoft reported on by Foley revealed that Windows 2000 had "over 63,000 potential known defects."[5] After Foley's article was published, she claimed that Microsoftblacklisted her for a considerable time.[6]
From July 7, 2007, to October 26, 2022, Foley co-hosted a weeklypodcast withLeo Laporte and Paul Thurrott, called "Windows Weekly", covering news on Microsoft, its products and services, and other computing-related topics. Foley mainly focused on Microsoft's enterprise business. On October 26, 2022, she announced that she was leaving the show, as well as ZDNet to become editor-in-chief atDirections on Microsoft.
Foley has interviewed prominent figures in information technology, includingBill Gates,Steve Jobs,Steve Ballmer andSatya Nadella.[7][8]
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